DAV CLASS 8 PA III ENGLISH

 DAV CLASS 8 PA III ENGLISH

1. Read the following passage carefully. 

Economists have long recognized a persistent and unfounded belief among the population which has come to be known as the anti-foreign bias. As a result of this bias, most people systematically underestimate the economic benefits of interactions with foreign nations. Some psychologists believe that this bias is rooted in a natural distrust of the “other,” while others believe that a form of folk wisdom, seemingly in accord with common sense but nonetheless incorrect, explains the bias.

This wisdom asserts that in any transaction there is a winner and a loser and any foreign nation that wants to engage in trade must be doing so because it seeks its own advantage. But nothing could be further from truth. No less an authority than Adam Smith, one of the fathers of the modern free market system, spoke glowingly of foreign trade in his influential treatise Wealth of Nations. “What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in a great kingdom,” said Smith.

His point is simple. A baker trades his bread to the cobbler for shoes and both men benefit from the trade because of the value of specialization. The same principle works for nations. Even more startling, a basic economic theorem, the Law of Comparative Advantage, states that mutually beneficial trade is possible even if one nation is less productive than the other.

Suppose a citizen of Country X can produce either 10 computers or five bushels of wheat and a citizen of Country Y can produce either three computers or two bushels of wheat. If one citizen from Country X switches from producing wheat to computers and three citizens from Country Y switch from producing computers to wheat, there is a net gain of one computer and one bushel of wheat.

Questions (1×5 = 5)

1. The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?
(a) Arguing for an increase in trade with foreign nations.
(b) Providing a historical context for a long-standing belief.
(c) Demonstrating the fallacy of a particular way of thinking.
(d) Illustrating an economic principle through an example.

2. The author most likely mentions the “baker” and the “cobbler” in order to:
(a) provide a concrete illustration of an economic principle
(b) discuss the types of goods available during Adam Smith’s time
(c) evaluate an example used in Smith’s Wealth of Nations
(d) show that all trade is based on specialization

3. The author most probably uses the word “startling” in reference to the Law of Comparative Advantage because:
(a) it is puzzling that no one before Adam Smith thought of the Law
(b) the Law of Comparative Advantage holds even when there is an imbalance in the capabilities of the nations
(c) it is surprising that the general public is unaware of the Law of Comparative Advantage
(d) most countries do not consider the Law of Comparative Advantage when devising their trade policies

4. As it is described in the passage, which of the following most closely resembles “folk wisdom?”
(a) A farmer decides that it is going to rain after scanning the sky for dark clouds.
(b) A child asks his parents why the sky is blue and the parents reply
(c) A person spends 10 dollars on lottery tickets every week because he believes that
(d) A mother tells her child to put on a jacket so he won’t catch cold, even though colds are caused by viruses.

2. Read the following passage carefully:

This is a great lesson for all of us to learn, that in all matters the two extremes are alike. The extreme positive and the extreme negative are always similar. When the vibrations of light are too slow we do not see them, nor do we see them when they are too rapid. So with sound; when very low in pitch we do not hear it, when very high we do not hear it either. Of like nature is the difference between resistance and non-resistance. One man does not resist because he is weak, lazy and cannot; because he will not; the other man knows that he can strike an irresistible blow if he likes; yet he not only does not strike, but blesses his enemies. The one who from weakness resists not commits a sin, and as such cannot receive any benefit from the non-resistance, while the other would commit a sin by offering resistance.  —Swami Vivekananda.

Answer the following questions by selecting most appropriate option from the ones given below:     (1×5 = 5)

Q1: “… in all matters two extremes are alike”, means:

(a) Powerful men always gain success

(b) All human beings are of same characters

(c) Boys and girls are equally talented

(d) The extreme positive and the extreme negative are alike

Q2: When the sound is in low pitch:

(a) we fail to hear it

(b) we can hear it easily

(c) it pleases us

(d) we feel dizzy

Q3: Too rapid vibrations of light:

(a) can be easily seen

(b) cannot be seen

(c) should be enjoyed

(d) both (b) and (c) are correct

Q4: The one who resists is different from a man who does not resist, because of his:

(a) nature    (b) weakness (c) strength (d) laziness

Q5: The word ‘irresistible’ mean:

(a) tied so closely that it cannot be separated

(b) so strong that it cannot be stopped

(c) that cannot be changed back

(d) so valuable that it cannot be replaced

WRITING SKILLS

3. Write a message for the following situation.

Read the following conversation :
Mohini: This is Mohini. Could I speak to Sheela?
Apu: Sorry. Mom is not here presently.
Mohini: Are you her son Apu?
Apu: Yes. Aunt.
Mohini: Please tell your Mom that she is invited to tea at 4 p.m. today at Bulbul Restaurant. Some other friends will also be there. At the party, there will be a talk by the noted writer Arundhati Rai.
Apu: O.K. Anything else?
Mohini: Yes. Please tell your Mom to be punctual. There may not be a seat available if she is late.
Apu has to go out. Write a message on his behalf for his mother.